The Role of Dairy in Human Nutrition: Myths and Realities

Abstract

Milk is a highly complex food that contains all the nutrients necessary for the development of mammalian offspring. For millennia, humans have included milk and milk products as major components of their diet. However, the effect of the consumption of dairy products on health has been a concern in recent years in terms of myths and realities. This review briefly describes the composition of bovine milk, the positive and negative effects that have been related to dairy products, and those aspects where the scientific evidence is still inconclusive. In addition to being nutritional, dairy products are a source of bioactive peptides, prebiotics and probiotics, fatty acids such as CLA, and fat globule membranes or have a protective effect against certain diseases. Negative effects include milk protein allergy or lactose intolerance. The effects of dairy products on certain cancers, such as prostate cancer, and their role in type II diabetes mellitus or weight gain are still inconclusive. Although the role of dairy products in cardiovascular risk is still inconclusive, recent meta-analyses have shown that dairy products may have a protective effect.